Morning Report: local papers

Friday's headlines: 40-year age difference between visa applicant and his wife; glut of graduates seeking teaching jobs in Waikato; Auckland University students ended up with hypothermia, after capsizing their kayaks during a wildlife trip near Taiaroa Head.

NZ Herald

The New Zealand Herald leads with the headline 'Is this love?' The paper has a picture of Balwinder Singh, 22, who had his visa application turned down by Immigration because of an age difference of nearly 40 years with his wife. She is a New Zealander aged 59. Mr Singh told the paper the decision is ageist and racist.

An undelivered text message sent a month ago from a woman on the missing yacht Nina, has only just been recovered.

Waikato Times

The Waikato Times dedicates its front page to the toughest employment market for teachers in decades. The paper says Waikato principals are receiving up to 100 applications for each teaching position, as graduates battle for jobs.

And the family of a morbidly obese conman who died following a brief stint in prison, say he should never have been shifted from his hospital bed.

Dominion Post

The Dominion Post leads with the use of psychometric testing as part of restructures and redundancies in Government agencies.

The paper says the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Department of Conservation are two of the agencies that have used the testing. Employment lawyers say using psychometric testing in such a way is inherently problematic and could be illegal.

Kath Monk, supported by husband Bernie Monk, is pictured as she read her victim impact statement at the start of the Pike River Coal sentencing in Greymouth. Her son Michael died in the mine.

The Press

The Press says Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker never read the initial report that raised concerns about the city council's building consent process. The paper says an audit last September identified 17 failings in the council's building control department.

New Zealand Post has told the paper that mail deliveries to the Port Hills and flat-land red zones will stop from 1 August for safety reasons.

ODT

The Otago Daily Times leads with job losses at Delta, an infrastructure company owned by Dunedin City Council. The company is to cut 77 jobs, as it closes its civil construction operation across Otago and Southland.

And several Auckland University students ended up with hypothermia, after capsizing their kayaks during a wildlife trip near Taiaroa Head on Thursday.